Aquatec and LMS Announce Upcoming Collaboration to Combine Subsea Communications and Load Monitoring

Basingstoke-based subsea communications experts Aquatec Group and Aberdeen-based load monitoring pioneers Load Monitoring Systems (LMS) have announced the launch of a collaboration between the two development environments in a move designed to reduce the cost of subsea installation, maintenance, and decommissioning in the Offshore Wind and Oil & Gas industry.

The specifics of the joint venture were discussed during Global Underwater Hub’s renowned Subsea Expo exhibition in Aberdeen in February this year, where both companies exhibited and showcased their capabilities, and announced at Oceanology International 2022. The collaboration will result in a soon-to-be presented streamlined modular design created to monitor subsea loads from 0-250Te as standard. The wireless subsea load sensing shackle will cater to different design applications, including visual monitoring of the loads on subsea moorings and winches using subsea displays or digital monitoring via signals transmitted wirelessly to the surface or ROV.

Kirk Anderson, LMS managing director, said: “We have been looking for a reliable and innovative subsea communications specialist with which to develop and enhance our subsea shackle technology, and it was vital to find the right partner. Therefore, we are delighted to be working with such an established, reputable organisation as Aquatec Group. Our combined specialist knowledge will benefit not only our businesses but also the wider subsea industry.”

Andy Smerdon, Managing Director of Aquatec Group, commented: “As soon as we were introduced to LMS, we recognised the similarities between the businesses – both are quality-focused businesses delivering innovation to the offshore industry. We believe there is a significant role to play here, in providing real-time and logged data to improve the understanding and performance of subsea equipment – and therefore to reduce the cost of offshore energy.”